FOCUS AND SCOPE

1. Journal Focus

SEJATI focuses on the interpretation, analysis, and application of Christian theological thought. The journal gives special attention to theological interpretation rooted in Scripture and developed through biblical, historical, systematic, practical, educational, missional, and contextual approaches.

The journal seeks to advance scholarly discussion in theology by publishing articles that are academically rigorous, methodologically clear, ethically responsible, and relevant to the development of theological knowledge, Christian education, church ministry, and contextual Christian witness.

SEJATI encourages manuscripts that engage critically with biblical texts, theological traditions, historical sources, contemporary contexts, ministry practices, educational issues, and social realities from a Christian theological perspective.

2. Scope of Studies

SEJATI welcomes manuscripts in the following areas:

1. Biblical Studies: studies on the Old Testament, New Testament, biblical theology, biblical interpretation, biblical languages, biblical backgrounds, and canonical interpretation.
2. Hermeneutics and Theological Interpretation: studies on interpretive methods, theological reading of Scripture, contextual hermeneutics, and the relationship between Scripture, theology, and contemporary contexts.
3. Systematic Theology: studies on Christian doctrines, theology proper, Christology, pneumatology, soteriology, ecclesiology, eschatology, theological anthropology, and related doctrinal themes.
4. Historical Theology and Church History: studies on the development of Christian thought, church history, theological movements, historical figures, traditions, councils, confessions, and ecclesial developments.
5. Practical Theology: studies on pastoral ministry, preaching, discipleship, worship, counseling, spiritual formation, leadership, congregational life, and ministry practices.
6. Christian Education: studies on theological education, religious education, curriculum development, pedagogy, faith formation, Christian learning, and educational ministry in church, school, and community contexts.
7. Missiology and Evangelism: studies on mission theology, evangelism, church planting, contextual mission, intercultural ministry, discipleship, and Christian witness in local and global contexts.
8. Contextual Theology: studies on the interaction between Christian faith and culture, society, local wisdom, public issues, social transformation, and Indonesian or Asian theological contexts.
9. Pastoral Theology: studies on pastoral care, pastoral counseling, shepherding, pastoral leadership, pastoral ethics, and church-based responses to human and social issues.
10. Ethics and Public Theology: studies on Christian ethics, social ethics, ecological theology, political theology, public theology, religious pluralism, and Christian engagement with public life.
11. Religious Studies Related to Christian Theology: studies that examine religion, spirituality, interreligious relations, and religious phenomena from a scholarly perspective relevant to Christian theological interpretation.

3. Types of Manuscripts Accepted

SEJATI accepts the following types of manuscripts:

1. Original Research Articles: articles presenting original research, analysis, findings, or theological argumentation.
2. Biblical and Theological Studies: articles based on biblical exegesis, theological interpretation, doctrinal analysis, or hermeneutical reflection.
3. Literature-Based Research Articles: articles based on systematic, critical, and scholarly engagement with relevant literature.
4. Contextual Theological Articles: articles that examine Christian theology in relation to local, cultural, ecclesial, educational, or social contexts.
5. Practical Ministry Studies: articles that analyze ministry practices, pastoral issues, Christian education, mission, discipleship, or church life using appropriate scholarly methods.
6. Critical Theological Essays: essays that present rigorous theological argumentation and critical reflection supported by scholarly sources.
7. Scholarly Reviews: review articles or critical reviews of books, theological works, or academic literature, subject to editorial consideration.

4. Target Readers and Contributors

SEJATI is intended for students, lecturers, researchers, theologians, pastors, church leaders, Christian educators, ministry practitioners, and scholars who are interested in theological interpretation and Christian scholarship.

The journal welcomes contributions from undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic staff, researchers, and practitioners, provided that the submitted manuscript meets scholarly standards, follows the author guidelines, and contributes to the journal’s field of study.

5. Manuscript Selection Criteria

Manuscripts submitted to SEJATI should meet the following criteria:

1. The manuscript is relevant to the focus and scope of the journal.
2. The manuscript presents original analysis, interpretation, argument, or findings.
3. The manuscript has a clear research problem, objective, method, and contribution.
4. The manuscript demonstrates appropriate use of biblical, theological, historical, practical, educational, or contextual methods.
5. The manuscript engages relevant and credible scholarly sources.
6. The manuscript provides clear argumentation and coherent structure.
7. The manuscript follows the official SEJATI author guidelines and article template.
8. The manuscript complies with publication ethics, plagiarism policy, copyright policy, and AI-use policy.
9. The manuscript contributes to theological scholarship, Christian education, ministry practice, or contextual theological reflection.

6. Interdisciplinary Approach

SEJATI welcomes interdisciplinary studies when they remain clearly connected to Christian theology, biblical interpretation, theological education, ministry, mission, or church life. Interdisciplinary manuscripts may engage fields such as education, history, philosophy, sociology, psychology, anthropology, communication, culture, ethics, and religious studies.

However, interdisciplinary manuscripts must clearly demonstrate their theological relevance and contribution to the journal’s focus.

7. Manuscripts Outside the Scope

SEJATI may reject manuscripts before peer review if they fall outside the journal’s focus and scope. Manuscripts may be considered outside the scope if they:

1. Do not relate to Christian theology, biblical studies, theological interpretation, Christian education, ministry, mission, or related fields;
2. Are purely devotional, homiletical, or inspirational without scholarly analysis;
3. Are opinion pieces without academic argument, method, or references;
4. Are sermons, church bulletins, reflections, or ministry reports without research-based analysis;
5. Are not supported by credible academic sources;
6. Do not present clear research problems, methods, or scholarly contributions;
7. Do not follow the author guidelines or manuscript template;
8. Contain serious ethical issues, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or inappropriate AI-generated content.

8. Keywords and Subject Areas

Authors are encouraged to use specific keywords that reflect the manuscript’s content and support discoverability in indexing systems. Relevant subject keywords may include:

1. Theological interpretation;
2. Biblical studies;
3. Old Testament;
4. New Testament;
5. Hermeneutics;
6. Systematic theology;
7. Historical theology;
8. Practical theology;
9. Christian education;
10. Pastoral theology;
11. Missiology;
12. Contextual theology;
13. Church ministry;
14. Christian ethics;
15. Public theology;
16. Religious studies;
17. Christian scholarship.

9. Editorial Screening

All manuscripts submitted to SEJATI will undergo initial editorial screening before being sent to peer reviewers. During this stage, the editorial team evaluates whether the manuscript fits the focus and scope of the journal, follows the author guidelines, uses the manuscript template, meets basic academic standards, and complies with publication ethics.

Manuscripts that do not fit the focus and scope may be returned to authors or rejected without external peer review.

10. Final Statement

SEJATI is committed to publishing high-quality scholarly works that contribute to theological interpretation, Christian theology, biblical studies, Christian education, ministry practice, mission, and contextual theological reflection. Authors are encouraged to ensure that their manuscripts clearly align with this Focus and Scope before submission.